According to Dr. William Sheil Jr., gout is a disease caused by too much uric acid in the blood stream. The uric acid causes small crystals of urate to be deposited all over the body, mainly in the joints. When the crystals are formed in the joints, there are recurring episodes of arthritis. Chronic gout can also cause the deposits to harden in the joints and, in turn, cause the joints to deteriorate, causing the kidneys to not work properly and can even leading to kidney stones.
Psychological Causes
Men are more susceptible to gout, due to the psychological differences between males and females. Females are more apt to visit a physician more often than men, and gout can be detected early. Men do not visit physicians as often and are therefore diagnosed later in the disease. They often have worse cases than do females.
Psychological Issues
According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no link between stress or other psychological issues and the causes of gout listed. Gout is simply known to be an issue that is directly related to a lifestyle of being overweight or consuming alcoholic beverages as well as having a family member who has had gout at one time, as it is hereditary.
Symptoms
The most common site for gout is the joint of the big toe on the foot--this is also called podagra when the toe is affected by the gout arthritis. Knees, wrists and fingers as well as elbows and ankles are also common areas for gout. Fast onset of pain as well as warmth and swelling and a red color with tenderness of the area are all symptoms of gout attacks. The attacks can come and go in a few hours or last days at a time.
Diagnosing
Gout is normally suspected when patients tell doctors about arthritis attacks in the toes, knees and ankles. The best and most reliable test used to determine gout is joint aspiration--a test is positive if it finds uric acid crystals. Arthrocentesis is commonly done in offices with local anesthetics. A sterile syringe and needle are used to aspirate fluid from the inflamed area, and the fluid is analyzed for uric acid content and crystals or infection. Symptoms can be treated without actually having to participate in the arthrocentesis test.
Treatment
Stopping the inflammation is the first priority and can be done with nonsteroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Indocin and Naprosyn. The pain can be relieved with Tylenol or acetaminophen. Preventing future attacks is important--this involves drinking enough fluids daily, avoiding alcoholic beverages and taking medication to reduce the uric acidity of the blood known as hyperuricemia. Eliminating shellfish and organ meats like liver or kidneys and sweetbreads from diets will help lower uric acid levels as well. Losing weight and staying in a healthy weight class is important to reduce future attacks; exercising is also important.
Tags: uric acid, alcoholic beverages, future attacks, gout joint, Psychological Issues